Beer Review: BridgePort Brewing Summer Squeeze

There’s just a hint of lemongrass in BridgePort Brewing Summer Squeeze, a nouveau twist on the lemony summer beer we’ve grown accustomed to since the early days of Belgian wits’ popularity in the U.S. Pouring the color of a light American lager, Summer Squeeze has a clean, airy aroma that’s slightly bready, and a head that’s thin yet zippy.

The Portland, OR brewery — which distributes to around 18 states, mostly in the west and south — went for Asian flair by adding the aforementioned lemongrass to the blonde ale, along with the juice of the yuzu fruit, a small, tart East Asian citrus fruit often used for its zest. The two flavors blend to form a refreshing, straightforward ale that makes for a perfect lawnmower beer on a hot August day. It’s light-bodied with a fizzy mouthfeel and a finish that grows a touch more sour on the back side after the swallow.

This seasonal beer, which was first released last year, is very food-friendly — especially with summer bites — given its citrus quality and lack of dominating flavor. Ideal pairings would be a vinegary chilled seafood salad, mildly spiced shrimp, chicken breast with red pepper, Asian slaw or even an Italian hoagie with spicy salami. Bring on the sun.